Airship.



J. W. WADSWORTH.

AIRSHIP.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 31, 1809.

Patented Apr. 11, 1911.

11 SHEETSSHEET 1.

h M v Mu VJ W W. m o J WITNESSES ATTORNEYS J. W. WADSWORTH.

AIRSHIP.

APPLICATION FILED AUG, 31, 1909. I 989,455. Patented Apr. 11, 1911.

11 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

ATTORNEYS J. W.- WADSWORTH.

AIRSHIP.

APBLIOATION FILED AUG. 31, 1909.

Patented Apr. 11, 1911.

11 SHEETSSHEET 4.

WITNESSES ATTORNEYS J. W. WADSWORTH. AIRSHIP.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 31 1909. 989 455.

Patented Apia 11,1911

11 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

W/T/VESSES' UVVE/VTOR 072)? 4! Wan 810M171- l/ ATTORNEYS j J. W.WADSWORTH. AIRSHIP.

APPLIUATION FILED AUG. 31, 1909.

Patented Apr. 11, 1911.

11 SHEETSSHEET 6.

WITNESSES UVVENTOR Clo/:11 [1/ Warts- M01 2 ll B Y A TTOH/VE VS J. W.WADSWORTH. AIRSHIP.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 31, 1909. 989,455. Patented Apr. 11,1911.

l1 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

ATTORNEYS J. W. WADSWORTH.

AIRSHIP.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 31,1909.

Patented Apr. 11, 1911.

11 SHEETSSHEET 8.

INVENTOH WITNESSES El-1. w w

wzd W J. W. WADSWORTH.

AIRSHIP.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 31, 1909.

Patented Apr. 11, 1911 11 SHEETS-SHEET 9 M W M N I ATTORNEYS W mdm J. W.WADSWORTH.

AIRSHIP. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 31, 1909.

Patented Apr. 11, 1911.

11 SEEETS SHEET 10.

' ATTOR/VY WITNESSES @Q ifl 7W "tltTE FKQE.

. l JOHN WASHINGTON WADSWORTH, OF LEETSDALE, PENNSYLVANIA.

AIRSHIP.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patnt d Apr. 11, 1911.

Application tiled A ugust 31, 1909. Serial No. 515,444.

5 and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Airship,of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to air ships, and

10 particularly to the heavier-than-air type.

The object of the invention is to produce an air ship which will have ahigh degree of buoyancy and dirigibility.

in its general construction the air ship 15 comprises a body in which aplurality of ro- 20 discharged.

Z5 and with the means for controlling the valves.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts tobe more fully described hereinafter and particularly set to forth in theclaims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specitication, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all 15 the figures.

Figure l is aside elevation of the air ship, representingthe same asthough at rest upon 6 a. supporting surface; Fig. 9. is a longitudinalvertical section through the air ship, a (1 portion of which is brokenaway; Fig. 3 is a vcrl'itail cross section ot' the air ship taken on theline of Fig. 2; this view passes through one of the wheels referred Ito, which draw in the air and which advance 5 the air so as to directthe movements of the ship; Fig. 4 is also a vertical section on the line-l---l of Fig. 2, but this view is taken at the side of one of thewheels referred to above; Fig. is a vertical longitudinal sec- 0 tionupon an enlarged scale and taken on the line of Fig. :3. certain partsbeing broken away; Fig. (i is a vertical section taken through one ofthebearings of the shaft and particu arly;illustrating the de- 5 tails ofthis bearii'ig and the details of certain eccentrics which control theoperation stantially the outline of of the buckets carried by thewheels; Fig. 7 is a cross section taken on the line 77 of Fig. (5 andfurther illustrating the details of the main bearings; Fig. 8 is asection taken through a part of one of the wheels and illustrating thedetails of its construction and the details of the means for attachingthe buckets; Fig. '9 is a vertical cross section taken through the upperpart of the body of the air ship and showing the general construction ofthe interior thereof, certain parts of this view being broken away; Fig.10 is a detail section of the wheels showing the means for securing thebody stays to the shell of the body; Fig. 11 is a section upon anenlarged scale taken on the line 1l1l of Fig. 10 and furtherillustrating the details of connection between the body stays and theshell of the body; Fig. 12 is a vertical section through the pipe systemof the air ship taken on the line l212 of Fig. 13 and illustrating thevalve arrangement; Fig. 13 is a plan of the "pipe system representing itas though removed from the body of the air ship, this view alsoillustrates the valve arrangement; Fig. 1-1 is a horizontal sectiontaken on the line l4-14 of Fig. 12 and further illustrating the pipesystem and the valve arrangement; Fig. 15 is a perspective showingaportion of one of the side plates adjacent to the wheels andillustrating the manner in which the side plates are built of sections;Fig. 16 is a side' elevation showin a portion of a roller ring withrollers, and illustrating the details of the main bearings; Fig. 17 isan end elevation showing a modified form the invention may take; Fig. 18is an end view of the pipe system; Fig. 19 is a cross section throughthe pipe system taken on the line 19l9 of Fig. 12; Fig. 20 is also across section through the pipe system taken on the line 20-20 of Fig.12; and Fig. 21 is a cross section through the pipe system taken on theline 21-21 of Fig. 12. V

Referring more particularly to the arts, and especially to Figs. 1 toat, inclusive, 1 represents the body of the air ship which is of tubularform, the axis of the body being horizontal. The upper portion of thebody is in the form of a cylindrical shell 2, as illustrated in Fig. 3,and from this shell :1 lower body or hold 3 extends downwardly. In crosssection the air ship presents suban ,1: having its point disposeddownwardly, the-longitudinal axis thereof being vertical. lVithin thecylindrical shell 2 a pipe frame or pipe system 4 is mounted, theconstruction of which is most clearly illustrated .in Figs. 12, 13, and1 1. This pipe system comprises an upper trunk 5 consisting of a ductwhich extends longitudinally of the shell on the upper side thereof, anda lower duct 6 which extends longitudinally of the shell 2 on the underside thereof. The trunk 5 ispreferably formed in sections connectedtogether at the joints 7. The upper trunk 5 is connected with the lowertrunk 6 by a plurality of air rings or ring ducts, which are indicatedcollectively by the numeral 8, extend -ing completely around the innerside of the.

shell, as shown in Fig. 3. On the upper side of each ring 8, adjacent tothe duct 5, an inlet opening 9 is formed, and in these openings 9 valvesare mounted, indicated by the letters a, a a a". These valves are of thedamper type, as shown in ig. 3, and are adapted to close or openopenings 9 which are formed on the upper side of the shell, as indicatedin Fig. 3. As illustrated, I have shown four of these rings, two of therings being disposed near the ends of the air ship, with two of therings disposed intermediate. The two intermediate rings 8 are providedwith by-pass pipes 11 which connect them with the trunk 5 around theopenings 9. Similar by-pass pipes 12 are provided on the inner sides ofthe end rings 8*. Opposite the point of connection of the by-pass pipes12 with the rings 8, side pipes 13 are provided which are connected withthe rings, and the bodies of these side pipes extend around throughsubstantially a quarter-circle. it their lower ends the curved portionsof these side pipes are formed with horizontal extensions or headers'14which have openings 15.in the outer side wall thereof. These openings 15register with similar openings 16 formed in the sides of the air ship,as shown in Fig. 1. In the curved portions of the side pipes 13, valvesare provided, referred to collectively by the letter 7), and indicatedspecifically by the letters 7), b, I), and 5 From the lower trunksimilar side p pes 17 extend around upwardly, and the upper ends of thecurved portions of these pipes connect with horizontal headers 18, andon the outer sides, these headers 18 have openings 19 which registerwith similar openings 20 formed through the wall of the air ship, asshown in Fig. 1. These side pipes are provided with valves which may bereferred to collectively by the letter 0, and indicated specifically bythe letters 0, c c and 0*. At the ends of the trunk 5, 11)p8l' tails 21are connected. curved, as shown in Fig. 18, so as to conform to thecurvature of the shell of the air ship,

The bodies of these tails are and on their outer or side faces 22 theyare provided with a plurality of openings 23. Each tail is provided witha neck 21, by means of which the connection is made to the trunk 5, andthese necks are also connected with the side pipes 13, as shown in Fig.13. In the necks 24, valves are provided, indicated by the letters d andKP.

, Referring to Fig. 14, the trunkfi is provided at its ends with tails25 which are similar to the tails 21, except that they are on; the underside of the shell 2. They are curved, as shown, so as toconform to thecurvature of the shell, and on their outer side faces are provided witha plurality of openings 26, as shown in Fig. 18. Adjacent to these tails25, the trunk 6 is provided with damper valves (1 and (5*, which maycompletely close off the tails from communica tion with, the trunk (S,as indicated in Fig. 14. As indicated in Fig. let, opposite the rings 8,the trunk is providedwith longitudinally disposed partition walls-orbattle plates 27, and at the ends of these plates, valves e, 6 cf, 6 6,5, and e are provided. These valves are of the damper type, and whenvalves 7', f f f*, are provided. As indi-' cated in Fig. 1 1, the valves6, e, e, and e are disposed on one side of the trunk, while the valves6, e 6, and c are disposed on the opposite side. The valves 7" and f aredis posed opposite to the valves 6' and 0*, whereas the valves f and fare disposed opposite to the valves and 6 lVhile I have shown thisparticulararrangement of valves, instead of arranging them as shown, Imay arrange them alternatingindividually instead of in pairs, as setforth.

- Referring now especially to Figs. 2 and 3, opposite each ofthe rings8, a Wheel 28 is mounted." These wheels are rigidly secured to tubularshafts 29 which are mounted in frames 30 'built up of tubular bars onthe interior of the body. These wheels are adapted to rotatively and'eccentrically operate in the direction of the arrow indicated in Fig.3, and they are provided with buckets 31 which are mounted thereupon and,which pass under the openings 9. As indicated in Fig. 12, theright-hand ring 8 is unotor. These engines 01' motors 40are sup-.

the trtink. In each ring opposite to these openings 32, 33, 34, and 35,small openings 36 are provided on the inner side of the ring, Which opencommunication between the ring and the space surrounded by the ring, asindicated in Fig. 3. In the upper portion of thetrings 8, damper valves5 g, g, g", 9 and g are provided, and these valves are disposed near theopenings 9, referred to above, and they may close off communication fromthe interior of the ring with these openings.

Referring again to Fig. 2, each of the shafts 29 is provided with asprocket Wheel 37 over-which pass-es a chain 38, said chain being drivenby a gas engine 40, or similar ported in the lower parts of the frames30, as indicated most clearly in Fig. 9. The details of this arrangementare very clearly shown in Fig. Each frame is provided with a bearingring -11, as illustrated in Fig. 6, and these bearing rings are rigidwith bearings 42, said bearings being in the form of sleeves, in whichrollers -13 are mounted. The ends of these rollers are rotatably mountedin rings l-l, as shown. licyond the rings 44, each hearing 42 is Formedwith flanges 45 and 46, These flanges prosent conical faces on theirontersides and receive conical rollers 47, the outer sides of which bearagainst a ring 48 at one end of the bearing, and against a wearing ringit) at the other end of the bearing, said wearing ring being attached tothe aforesaid wheels 28. These wheels have hubs 50 in the form ofsleeves which are rigidly attached to the tubular shafts 22) by means ofstuds 51, as indicated.

As shown most clearly in Fig. 1t3,the conical rollers 47 are mounted inpockets i2 whiclrare formed in the roller ring 53, as

indicated. The flanges 4-6 are not. made integral with the sleeves orbearings 42, but

are formed of rings 54-, as shown in Fig. (3, and to these rings and tothe sleeves adjacent thereto, large eccentrics 55 are attached, saideccentrics presenting running faces 5t; which constitute raccways for Irollers 57, said rollers being arranged between the face of theeccentric and the strap 58 thereof. It should be umlcrstood.that'theeccentrics are ri id with the frame, while the straps 58 turn fi'eelythereupon, the rollers being employed so as to reduce the friction.These rollers 57 are mounted between rings 55) which turn with them, aswill be readily understood.

As shown most clearly in Figs. 4 and 5, the wheels 28 are provided invtheir edges with curved slots (30, and these slots receive the curvedwings or plates (31 of the aforesaid buckets 31. These buckets have sideplates 62 to "which eccentric rods 63 are pivotn'lly attached, the innerends of the said eccentric rods being pivotally attached to theeccentric straps 58, as indicated in detail in Fig. 6. One of theseeccentric rods 63, on each side of the wheel is made rigid by braces 63as shown in Fig. 4. The buckets 31 are pivoted by pins (54 on thewheels, and the slots are struck on a radius from these pins (34 as acenter. As indicated most clearly in Fig. 4, the eccentrics are arrangedso that they project upwardly from the shaft, and as the wheels rotate,the eccentric rods (33 will extend the buckets from the wheel, asindicated. In this 'ay the outer edges of the buckets are maintainednear the inner faces of the rings 8,-so that as the wheels rotate thebuckets may take in air through the openings 8). and carry the air downinto the openings 3-32, 33, 3-1, or 35. At the sides of the wheels,bulkheads 5 are provided which extend completely across the interior ofthe shell2. On the outer sides of these bulkheads which arc disposedtoward the wheels, I provide radially disposed battens (36 which connectthe segments of the lnilkl'icad, as"indicated in Figs. -l and 15.

Referring again to Fig. (3, it will be noted that each wheel is built upof side plates 37 and braces (38 which connect. the face plate or rimof) of the wheel with the hub 50 thereof. As indicated in Fig. 3, thebodies of the buckets present the outline of curved scoops \vhichprojcctin the direction of rotation, and these scoops are adapted to scrape.along on the inner side of the air ship, as will be readily understood.

As indicated most clearly in Fig. f),thc bearings 42 are connected by aplurality of braces with the shell t the point whcrethcse braces areattached to the shell, reinforcing rings it are provided in thc shelland the ends of the braces or stays T0 are provided with threads 72which are received in nuts 73 seating in lllt' ounter-bored openingsT-tformed in the hcll. In this way the shafts of the wheels are lit-idcentrally in the body of the air ship. I

Referring to- Fig. 3, on the inner side of the shell 2, I providelongitudinally extend ing kcclsons 75, and from these ltccls'ins, linksit hang'doivnwardly and support platforms 77, as indicated in Fig. 2.The links of these platforms are connected by connect ing rods or links78 with levers T9 pivotall v attached at 80 at the bottom of the hold13. The upper ends of the levers T9 are connected by means of connectingrods 81 with wheels 82, respectively, and these wheels have endlesscords 83 passing thereabont; said cordspass upwardly and around wheels84 on the'stcms of the valves/.1, o, a", and a". As furtherindicated inFig. 2, t e valves 5 ,Yf', etc., and '0'. 0*, etc, are provided withpendent cords 85, by means of which the valves may be opened or closedwhen desired. Similar cords 86 are provided; for the valves cl, d", d,and (5. At the sides 0f the links 79, a series of bars 87 are provided,and these connecting bars are provided with pins 88, as shown. Owing tothe unusual-length of the bars 87, as will be seen in Fig. 2, it ispreferably found to be of great advantage to connect several pieces ofmaterial. to form one bar, thus constituting a series of connected bars.These .pins 88 are adapted to be engaged by hooks 89 formed upon lockinglevers 90, which levers are provided with handles. 91 for connecting anddisconnecting them, as will be readily understood. It should beunderstood that the upper ends of the links 76 are pivotally attached tothe keelsons 7 5 so that a person on the platform can swing the platformtoward the front or rear of the air ship when desired. In doing so thelever 79 will be operated through the links 78 so as to partially rotatethe wheel 82 and set the valve connected therewith in any positiondesired.

In order to support the airship in an upright position before flightcommences, I provide the sides of the hold 3 with openings 92, andthrough these openings 92,.legs 93 project, said legs being rigidlyattached to short shafts 94: disposed in a horizontal position at thesides of the hold, as indicated in Fig. 3. The hubs of the legs 93 areprovided with oppositely projecting arms 95, and these arms areconnected by crossed cords 96, so that when one of the legs is movedinwardly, the other will move likewise, and vice versa. When the airship rises, these legs 93 fold against the sides of the hold, as will bereadily understood. These legs 93 are,in the form of open frames, asindicated in Fig. 1, said frames being rendered more rigid by diagonalbraces 93.

In the sides of the hold 3, a plurality of windows 97 ,are provided, foradmitting light and air, as indicated in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 17-, I illustrate a modified form of the invention, in which thebody 98 is preferably rounded on its upper and lower sides, and in whichthe wheels 99 are arranged in groups, there being three wheels in eachgroup, as indicated. The ends of this body are closed by heads 100, andeach head is provided with a door- 101 adapted to swing open on hinges102. As in t-he'preferred form, this body 98 is provided with legs 103which are adapted to support it,

as indicated. These legs 103 are connected by a crossed cor-d104, as inthe'form shown in Fig. 3, so as to enable the legs'to be folded againstthe under side of the body when the air ship rises, all of which isindicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 17.

In the preferred form, in order to give the' hold rigidity, I providedownwardly extending frames 1.05, and the lower parts of these framesconnect with frame rings 106,

it finds exit.

the upper edges of which rest against the I under side of the shell 2,as shown. The

upper ends of the frames 105 are connected with bow frames 107 whichextend down on the under body of the shell 2. At the point of connectionbetween the frames 105 and 107, gusset-plates 108 are provided.

In making ready to rise, the valves a, a a, a c, c, 6 6*, e, 6, 6 and 6should be open, also the avlves f, f f f,. The air then enters throughthe openings 9 and is caught by the buckets and carried down into theair rings 8, passing into the rings through the openings32, 33, 34, and35. The air then circulates through the rings and passes out of therings into the space above the wheels the valves a, a a a, should beclosed, as, for instance, the valve 6?. If the valve a should be closed,then the valves g g and (1 should be open and the valves (1 and entersthrough the openings 23 at one end. of the air ship, passes the valve d,enters the trunk 5, passes through the valves 9 and g" through the wheelat this point, then througli the valves 6 and 6 into the trunk 6' whereit mixes with the air from the other wheel, and then passes out throughthe valve (1 and through the openings 25 at the right'end of the airship. This will advance the airship so that its left end as viewed inFig.12 is forward. The direction of the air ship can be controlled byregulating the valves b, 5

-etc., and c, 0 etc. For instance, if it is desired to guide the airship toward the right, the valves 12 and 0 can be opened so that airwill flow in at the forward openings 15 on the right side, will passrearwardly within the trunks 5 and 6, and will pass out through theopenings 19 at the rear of the airship and-on the right side. This willtend to mpve the stern of the air ship-toward the le t.

In the operation of the wheels, certain ones of the wheels may be usedto advance the air ship, while the othersmay be used to give the airship'buoyancy, that is, the action of some of the wheels may support theair ship in the air. Whenever any of the valves fgf ff and f are closedthey evidently pre- I In order to advance, one of.

i should be closed tight. The air then the trunks 6, and can be forcedin either direction, depending on the position of the valves 0 etc. Ifthe valves 0, c, c and c are open, the air will, of course, tend to movetoward the left end of the air ship. and the reaction developed when itfinds exit at this end of the ship, will tend to advance the air shiptoward the right.

The lower side of the shell '2 is provided with an opening 2 which openscomnuinication between the hold and the interior of the shell, and whichenables the crew of the air ship, o1 -passengers, to pass up into theinterior of the shell so as to reach the machinery. \Vhen the windwheels 28 are employed to advance the ship the connecting". links 78should be diseonnectml from the links T41, and it should be rememberedthat when a "wind wheel 28 operatcdio advance the ship, the valve 0 isclosed, although the swinging platform 77' is connected tov theconnecting bar 118 b) the locking lever 9|). This operation 1s performedto retain as much weight as possible to act as a penduhuu for op ratinthe valves, collectively indicated by u.

Having thus described my invention, l

I clann as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent,'

1. An air ship havinga bodv with a plurality of openings in the upperside thereof.-

a trunk extending loi'igitudinallv of said body, a plurality of airrings in communication with said trunk, a plurality of wheels rotatablymounted at said air rings and adapted to draw air in tl'irough saidopeninns and deliver the same to said air rings, and valves in saidtrunk correspondinnto said air rings and adapted to direct the airtoward either end thereof.

2. An air ship having a body with a lu rality of openings therein, apipe system having an upper trunk and a lower trunk, said trunksextending longitudinally of said body, air rings connected with saidtrunks, wheels rotatably mounted in said body at said air rings andadapted to draw atm sfl pheric air into said firings, valves in saidrings and valves in said trunks controlling the flow of air, said-twinkshaving tails at the ends thereof with o 'ieniugs therct hrough, throughwhich the air may escape.

3. An airship having; a pipe system. com- 'irisi'ng an upper trunk and alower trunk, air rings connected with v aid trunks. valvesr'ontrollingth flow of air within said rings, wheels rotatably mountedin said rings and adapted to draw air into the same, valves ontrolling-the flow of air between said l'll'lQ'S and said lower trunk. tailsconne t r l with said trunks at the ends thereof having opcnings adaptedto deliver the air at. the

ends of the air ship. valve controlling the flow to said tails, headersat the sides of said air ship having openngs through which the and meansin the body for directing" the air.-

from the said rings to the ends and sides of the said body.

5. An airhip having -a body withair rings formed therein. valves torcontrolling the flow oi air in the said rings. a pipe system having anupper trunk and a lower trunk and connected with said air rings, headersat the sides ot'saidv airship, having openings through which the air maytlo'w tron] t' u-'-tr|uiks, valves in the trunks for 'controll'in; theair' flowing therethrough,

and l1!tll]\' counts-ted with the said'valves for ontrolling the same. II

3. An airship havin jopcnin'gs in the sidewall thereot. lensl)tlS.-lllQ"lill't)llf ll said openlug-s and rot'atably mounted withinsaid body adjacent to said openiu 's, andmechanism connecting saidlegst'or moving the same in unison, said legs being adapted to foldagainst the sides oi said 'body and being adapted when extended to restupon the ground and support said body in an erect position. I

T. in an air ship, in combinatiom a substantially tubular body havingopenings in the upper side thereof, air rings within said body at saidopci'iings, a plurality of wheels mounted ecccntrically in said airrings, buckets carried by said wheels, eccentrics controlling" theposition of said' buckets and adapting them to draw the air in throughsaid openings, ducts in the 'all of said body a tl'ordin z means fordirecting the air toward he ends and sides thereof. and valves forcontrollingthe How of the air in said ducts.

in an air ship, a substantially tubular hcll, a plurality of wheelsrotatal'ily monnted in said shell and adapted to draw the air into thesame, ducts at the'wall of said shell for directing the airto the endsand sides thci-cot', valves controlling the flow ofair in said ducts. aswingin; platform supported under said shell, and means for controllingsaid valves by the swinging movement of said platforn'i.

9. To an air ship in combination. a body presentinp' substantiallytubular shell,

whccls rotatably mounted in said shell and, adapt d to draw air into theinterior thereof, ducts on the interior of said shell adapted to directthe air toward the ends and the sides ot said body. valves controllingthe admission of air .to said Wheels, swinging frames suspended undersaid shell, pulleys connected with said swinging frames and adapted ,tobe rotated therebywhen said frames swing, and means connecting; saidpulleys With said valves for controlling the same.

10. An air ship having a plurality of air rings having openings in theupper sides thereof, a plurality of Wheels rotatably mounted,respectively'in said air rings and adapted to draw the air in throughsaid openings, means for directing the air to the sides and ends of saidair ship, valves in said air rings adjacent to said openings for closingsaid air rings against circulation, a trunk extending longitudinally ofsaid an ship, and by-pass pipes connecting said rings JOHN WASHINGTONWADSWORTH.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH HARPER, JOHN MINICH.

